As an Italian driver or tourist, you should know about traffic fines in Italy for safe riding. Because when you break small rules, it can cause serious trouble for you.
Therefore, our team has written this helpful guide for you. You will learn what types of traffic fines exist in Italy and how much they cost. We will also explain how you can pay a fine and what happens if you ignore them.
What Type of Fines Can You Get in Italy (Italian Traffic Fines)
In Italy, you have to follow some traffic rules which are made by the Government and enforced by local police. Following is the list of fines which you may face if you don’t obey traffic rules in Italy.
Speeding Fine in Italy
When you drive your vehicle faster than the speed limit on Italian roads, you are overspeeding. As a result, you can get a speeding fine. You can see speed limit signs on the road and if you can’t find them, there are standard speed limits based on the type of highway.
You need to follow it in any condition if you are a full license driver. For example: if you see the limit is 30 km/h and you drive your car at 50 km/h, it is also too fast and leads to fine. So, you should always check the speed signs around you.
How Much is a Speeding Fine in Italy: There are special types of cameras called autovelox that are installed to record you to check if you overspeed or not. Following is the fine you may have to pay if you overspeeding.
| Over Speed Range | Fine (in Euros) |
| Up to 10 km/h | €41 to €175 |
| From 10 to 40 km/h | €175 to €695 |
| From 40 40 to 60 km/h | €544 to €2,174 |
| 60+ km/h | €847 to €3,389 |
| Night-time speeding (10 PM – 7 AM) | Fine increases by 1/3 |
Speeding Tickets in Italy: If you drive a rented car with overspeed, the police give you a speeding ticket. Actually, a speeding ticket is a paper that tells you what rule you broke, where it happened & how much you need to pay legally.
ZTL or Restricted Traffic Zones
If we talk about ZTL fine, it means Zona Traffico Limitato in Italian. These are restricted areas in cities where you can enter only if you have special permission. For example: in Milan you can’t drive without a permit. Because, there are rules which are made to reduce traffic & pollution in such busy zones.
However, sometimes you will see only this rule is active for a short time and may be your certain type of vehicles are restricted. ZTL fines in Italy can be different based on city rules. Generally you may need to pay in the range between 80 to 300 Euros. If you don’t pay a fine on time, you may face other penalties and strict legal actions.
How To Get a ZTL Pass in Italy: If you need to enter a ZTL zone, you need to get a valid pass which is also called permit. Once you have it, you can avoid fines and can legally drive your vehicle in restricted areas.
- Register your car with the city.
- You need to apply for a permit in your local city office.
- Rental car companies can also arrange permits for you.
- You can also visit a specific city official website to get a pass.
Driving in Public Transport Lanes
In some cities of Italy, you can only drive your buses, trams or taxis at specific traffic lanes. These are called public transport lanes. If you drive your car in these lanes instead of a bus/taxi, you have to pay a fine.
If you drive in these lanes, you must pay a fine which can be from €80 to €232 due to violations of rule. Therefore, you should always check for road markings which clearly show you that type of transport lane. You can also identify these areas by road signs placed on road sides.
Parking Fines in Italy
Actually, Italy has very strict parking rules. So, if you park your car in the wrong place, you might have to pay a fine due to a parking violation. Generally, different cities have different colored lines on the road to show you where you can park your vehicle. For example:
- White lines: These lines tell you about free parking (check signs for time limits).
- Blue lines: Blue lines indicate paid parking. You need to buy a ticket from a nearby machine to park your car.
- Yellow lines: You can only park your special vehicles such as taxis. Plus, people with permits can also use this zone.
Parking fines in Italy range from €40 to €335 but mostly it depends on your type of mistake. Following are some common parking mistakes and their fines:
| Parking Mistakes | Fine (€) |
| Parking on the sidewalk | €84 to €335 |
| Parking where it’s not allowed | €41 |
| Don’t show your parking ticket | €42 to €173 |
| When to not buy ticket for blue line parking | €41 |
| Park your car on sidewalks | €84 to €335 |
Missing To Pay Tolls
In Italy, you will see that many highways are not free. In such cases, you have to pay tolls when you enter or exit your vehicle. If you don’t pay tolls, you have to pay a legal fine.
For example: if you forget to pay fines and also drive your vehicle in the wrong or prohibited lane. When this happens to you, generally your car number is recorded and you will receive a fine message from the toll road operator.
In some cases, you may have to pay the toll cost plus a fine and fine can be as high as 338 Euro. Hence, you should always check the signs, keep your ticket and must pay tolls before you leave the highway.
How To Pay Tolls in Italy?
In Italy, you can pay tolls on highways at toll booths. Further, you can use cash, a credit/ debit card or a Telepass device. When you drive on the highway, you will get a ticket by the toll machine. You should never lose it because you need it to pay the toll when you exit.
Drunk Driving Fines in Italy(Drink Driving Laws Italy)
When you drive your vehicle on Italian roads, you are not allowed to drink and drive at all. If you drive after drinking alcohol, you can face big fines. For example: you may lose your license, pay fines or you can be sent to jail. Actually, the punishment is based on how much alcohol is in your blood. This is called BAC (Blood Alcohol Content).
If you are a new driver (under 21) or you are a professional driver, your BAC must be zero. The legal limit for BAC is 0.5 g/l. If you have high BAC, you have to face strict punishments. Below are some examples of drunk driving penalties:
- BAC 0.5–0.8 g/l: Fine from €532 to €2,127
- BAC 0.8–1.5 g/l: Fine range is from €800 to €3,200 & your license can be suspended.
- More than 1.5 g/l: Fine from €1,500 to €6,000, your license will be taken and possibility of jail too.
Fines For Driving Without Seat Belt
In Italy, seat belts are not optional for you, they are required by law. That’s why this rule applies to everyone in your car such as you and back seat passengers too. If you are not wearing a seatbelt when you drive, the police can stop you and give you a fine right away.
Generally, you need to pay a fine between €83 to €332. Not just limited to this, you can also lose up to 5 points from your driving license. Further, when you lose too many points, your license can be suspended. So, it’s compulsory for you to wear a seatbelt when you ride in a car.
Red Light Violation Fines
If you don’t stop your vehicle at a red traffic light, it is called a red light violation. The penalty for this rule breaking is generally between €167 and €665. You can also lose up to 6 points from your driving license. When you lose too many points it can lead to suspension of your license. You will also see many traffic lights in cities that have cameras.
Actually, these cameras capture your photo if your car crosses the line after the light turns red. So always remember that if no police are around you, the camera can still record you. However, if you think that fine is wrong then you can appeal. But you need to do it within 60 days and you may need help from a lawyer & local office.
Fines For Driving Without License/Insurance
In Italy, when you ride your car without a valid license or car insurance, it’s considered a serious offense. So, when police find you driving without licence, the fine you need to pay is approximately €5,000 to €30,000. Police can also take your car away and you may be banned from driving for a certain time.
It basically happens when you have a licence from another country but it’s not valid in Italy. However, if you drive your car without insurance then the fine is between €866 and €3,464. Plus, your car will also be banned for 2 months. That means, you are not allowed to use it during that time.
Violation of Overtaking Prohibition
You will probably see that some roads have signs that say no overtaking. It says, you are not allowed to pass another vehicle in dangerous areas such as curves, hills and narrow roads.
Hence, if you break this rule, you may face a fine penalty between €80 and €318. Further, you might also lose 2 to 10 points from your driving license. But, it usually depends on how risky the situation was which you ignore. For example: when you are overtaking near a curve, it is more serious than on a straight road.
Cost of Traffic Fines in Italy (& Italy Traffic Rules)
As you know, traffic fines in Italy depend on how serious the rule you break. There are three types of violation types in Italy such as minor, medium & serious offenses.
Minor Offenses
Minor offenses are low risk driving mistakes which don’t cause much danger. However, you may still face a penalty and pay a fine too. Following are examples of minor offenses in Italy.
- When you park your vehicle in a no-parking zone.
- If you do not pay at paid parking spots.
- Slightly over the speed limit driving.
Fines: Around €25 to €100
Points lost: Generally 1 or 2 points
Medium Offenses
These are more serious violations than minor offenses. In such cases you may put others in damage and you may pay higher fines.
- If you ignore traffic signs.
- Use of the phone while you are driving.
- When you do not stop at a red light.
- Car riding much faster than the speed limit.
Fines: Approx. €100 to €500
Points lost: You may lose 3 to 5 points
Serious Offenses
Serious offenses are more dangerous than all other violations. They can cause accidents and have big legal penalties. Following are some examples.
- Drunk when you are driving.
- If you drive without a license & insurance.
- Violation of overtaking rules.
- Drive your car much faster than allowed.
Fines: €500+
Points lost: 6 or more points
Italy Traffic Fines For Tourists & Foreign Drivers
If you are a tourist or a foreign driver in Italy, you still have to follow all traffic rules. When you break any traffic rules and if you leave Italy, the fine can still be sent to your home.
Rental Car Fines
If you drive a rental car and break a traffic rule, such as overspeeding or entering a ZTL zone, you have to pay a fine from 40 to over 300 euros. The rental company may also charge you an extra service fee, generally between €20 and €50, for handling the fine.
Driving with a Suspended or Revoked Driver License In Italy
It’s illegal to drive if your license is suspended (temporarily taken away) or revoked (taken away for good). As a driver or tourist, you must follow this rule; otherwise, you may face criminal offenses. Police will charge you a heavy fine; they can take your car and also send you to jail for a certain time.
Plus, you will also receive an official ban, which means you can’t drive in Italy during that time. If your license is revoked, you may not be allowed to drive in Italy for as long as two years. Hence, if your license is not valid, it’s best for you not to drive at all, so that you can avoid strict penalties.
Tickets Due To Traffic Violations in Italy
A traffic ticket is a notice you get from police when you break any traffic rule. This paper will clearly show you what you did wrong & where, plus how much fine you need to pay. You will receive a ticket for violations of things like speeding, if you do not stop at a red light, not wearing a seat belt, or parking your car in the wrong way.
In such cases, police will stop you and give you a ticket on the spot. But, when you only record in cameras, you will receive it by mail. You must pay as early as possible. If you ignore it, the amount will be increased.
Consequences of Not Paying Italian Traffic Fines
- You lose the chance to get a discount (geanrally 30% if you paid within 5 days).
- If you don’t pay the fine, the fine will double over time.
- Italian traffic authorities may send fines to a debt collection agency (even in your home country).
- When a rental vehicle fine is delayed, then rental car companies may add extra charges & also block you from future rentals.
- If you return to Italy, your unpaid fines can cause legal trouble for you & police stops as well.
How To Pay Traffic Fines in Italy
If you get an Italian traffic fine, you should follow a few easy steps to pay your fine. You can also read the fine instructions on the back of the ticket. Further, you can try the following methods.
Pay Online: you can use the website mentioned on the ticket.
Go To a Post Office: You should visit a local post office, show them your traffic ticket and pay the fine.
Use a Local Tabacchi: You also go to a local tobacco shop (called a “tabacchi” in Italy) to clear your fine.
Pay By Bank Transfer: Plus, you can also send the fine amount directly from your bank to the Italy government’s bank account.
Final Thoughts
Finally, we hope now you have clear information about the most common traffic fines in Italy and their costs also. As you can see, when you know these rules, it can help you to avoid penalties. So, always remember to follow local traffic laws to stay safe and stress-free. Additionally, for any traffic safety product inquiries, you can contact the JACKWIN team now.
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